I have a love-hate relationship with social media. Believe it or not, I’m an
introvert so social media is the perfect place for me to be a social person. I can connect with people without having to speak, worry about how I look or act,
and have even made cyber friends. I really love looking at pictures to see what’s
new and on trend and have gotten a lot of my style inspiration from fierce street
style photos. And let me tell you, Pinterest has saved dinner many a night!

When I first began my blog I was a social media virgin. I
didn’t have an Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook account, not even a smart phone.
But I learned quickly that in order to gain readers, ALL social media platforms
were necessary. In the beginning social media was fun and exciting. I would
literally let out a squeal every time I received a new comment or “like” and would take off in a sprint
to share the news with my husband (who is very supportive).

Kevin (who wrote the post referenced) hit the nail on the head when he said “It can be easy
to become a slave to the beeping of your phone or computer and always be
checking your notifications online.” I often checked my notifications at work,
dinner, watching a family movie, driving, even in church! Social media was controlling
me! “Let’s be honest: some social media sites act as a black hole–sucking up
our time and attention like a powerful, mind-numbing vacuum. It can be easy, or
even normal, to just go on Facebook or Pinterest to “check one thing” and to
stay on for an hour or longer.” One Saturday while home alone I stayed on the
computer browsing Pinterest for 5 hours!! WHAT THE WHAT!! All of my “free” time was used on social
media.

Recently, I’ve been doing some self-reflection...where was I
finding my value and identity? Was I making the best use of the time God had given me (I thought about those 5 hours spent on Pinterest)? When
was the last time I had opened up my bible? Prayed?

“One lie that social media subtly tells us is that you only
have value if people follow you or like your photos. If your mood depends on
the number of “Likes” or “Comments” your status or photo receives, that means
you care too much about gaining the approval of man. Don’t fall into that trap!
While there may be some benefit to building a following and developing
relationships on social media, you may find building your mood and self-esteem
upon the shaky foundation of Instagram and Twitter not as satisfying as you may
think. Instead of treasuring up worldly things like Twitter follows or Facebook
friends, store up for yourself treasures in heaven that will have eternal
value. This will also help you escape the people-pleasing trap that is so
common on social networks.”

“Have you ever known someone who seems like the coolest
person online but is a radically different person in real life?” YES! In this
world of blogging I’ve met many who were not who I thought they were. Some have
even been mean and rude. “They can have cool Instagram pictures, post status
updates every five minutes, and have a thousand friends on Facebook, and be a
very different person in real life. Unfortunately, social media can act as a
mask, hiding our true identity and causing others to look at us differently
than we really are."

"The root of the issue is pride. We want people to think we are
cool and have it all together. Instead of basing our decisions on what people
think, we should base decisions on what God thinks.” Sadly, many of us have a wrong idea of God’s
opinion of us. We base it on what we've been taught, our bad experiences in
life, and many other assumptions. We may think God is disappointed in us or
that we'll never measure up. We may even believe God is angry with us because
try as we might, we can't stop sinning.

I honestly think this is why we mistakenly base our self-worth
on how others see us and on our accomplishments. We are constantly striving for
approval and affection. But I’m here to tell you that when you see yourself as God
sees you, it can change your entire perspective on life. Our identity is found
in Jesus Christ. It is rooted in the freedom-giving mercy of Jesus Christ. Our
identity is that of a child of God and a joint heir with Jesus Christ. Our
spiritual inheritance is one of forgiveness, intimate relationship with Jesus Christ
and hope of spending all eternity enjoying fellowship with God. It is this
truth that gives us unconditional love, intimacy, security and hope. And it is
not based on our identity, but on what God has already accomplished at the
cross of Jesus Christ.

Here are some scriptures to back up my identity in Christ.

• I am a child of God.

But to all who have received him--those
who believe in his name--he has given the right to become God's children … (John 1:12).

• I am a branch of
the true vine, and a conduit of Christ’s life.

I am the true vine and my Father is the
gardener. I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in me--and I
in him--bears much fruit, because apart from me you can accomplish nothing (John 15:1, 5).

• I am a friend of
Jesus.

I no longer call you slaves, because
the slave does not understand what his master is doing. But I have called you
friends, because I have revealed to you everything I heard from my Father (John 15:15).

• I have been
justified and redeemed.

But they are justified freely by his
grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus (Romans 3:24).

• My old self was
crucified with Christ, and I am no longer a slave to sin.

We know that our old man was crucified
with him so that the body of sin would no longer dominate us, so that we would
no longer be enslaved to sin (Romans 6:6).

• I will not be
condemned by God.

There is therefore now no condemnation
for those who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1).

• I have been set
free from the law of sin and death.

For the law of the life-giving Spirit
in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death (Romans 8:2).

• As a child of God,
I am a fellow heir with Christ.

And if children, then heirs (namely,
heirs of God and also fellow heirs with Christ)--if indeed we suffer with him
so we may also be glorified with him (Romans 8:17).

• I have been
accepted by Christ.

Receive one another, then, just as
Christ also received you, to God's glory (Romans 15:7).

So then, if anyone is in Christ, he is
a new creation; what is old has passed away--look, what is new has come (2 Corinthians 5:17)!

• I have become the
righteousness of God in Christ.

God made the one who did not know sin
to be sin for us, so that in him we would become the righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:21).

• I have been made
one with all who are in Christ Jesus.

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there
is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female--for all of you are
one in Christ Jesus (Galatians
3:28).

• I am no longer a
slave, but a child and an heir.

So you are no longer a slave but a son,
and if you are a son, then you are also an heir through God (Galatians 4:7).

• I have been set
free in Christ.

For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand
firm, then, and do not be subject again to the yoke of slavery (Galatians 5:1).

• I have been blessed
with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.

Blessed is the God and Father of our
Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the
heavenly realms in Christ (Ephesians
1:3).

• I am chosen, holy,
and blameless before God.

For he chose us in Christ before the
foundation of the world that we may be holy and unblemished in his sight in
love (Ephesians 1:4).

• I am redeemed and
forgiven by the grace of Christ.

In him we have redemption through his
blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace
(Ephesians 1:7).

• I have been
predestined by God to obtain an inheritance.

In Christ we too have been claimed as
God's own possession, since we were predestined according to the one purpose of
him who accomplishes all things according to the counsel of his will (Ephesians 1:11).

• I have been sealed
with the Holy Spirit of promise.

And when you heard the word of truth
(the gospel of your salvation)--when you believed in Christ--you were marked
with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13).

• Because of God’s
mercy and love, I have been made alive with Christ.

But God, being rich in mercy, because
of his great love with which he loved us, even though we were dead in
transgressions, made us alive together with Christ--by grace you are saved (Ephesians 2:4-5)!

• I am seated in the
heavenly places with Christ.

… And he raised us up with him and
seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus … (Ephesians 2:6).

• I am God’s
workmanship created to produce good works.

For we are his workmanship, having been
created in Christ Jesus for good works that God prepared beforehand so we may
do them (Ephesians 2:10).

• I have been brought
near to God by the blood of Christ.

But now in Christ Jesus you who used to
be far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ (Ephesians 2:13).

• I am a member of
Christ’s body and a partaker of His promise.

… The Gentiles are fellow heirs, fellow
members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 3:6).
(See also Ephesians 5:30.)

• I have boldness and
confident access to God through faith in Christ.

… In whom we have boldness and
confident access to God because of Christ's faithfulness (Ephesians 3:12).

• My new self is
righteous and holy.

… Put on the new man who has been
created in God's image--in righteousness and holiness that comes from truth (Ephesians 4:24).

The more we embrace these truths from
Scripture about who we have become in Christ, the more stable, grateful, and
fully assured we will be in this world because "greater is the One living inside of me
than he who is living in the world!!!!

4 comments:

Thank you for such and insightful and positive post. You are absolutely right, sometimes we invest our time upon other people's perception of us. It's a good thing that God has the patience and understanding to always give us an opportunity to do and be better through him.Have a Blessed Day.